What are the responsibilities and job description for the Combustion Turbine Technician position at Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company?
Under general supervision, performs electrical, mechanical, and control functions for the maintenance, repair, inspection, testing, installation and removal of electrical circuits and equipment, electronic and pneumatic control systems at generating sites. Follows all procedures and safety rules. Performs work alone or with other employees depending on the character and nature of the work.
Under general supervision, performs duties in connection with the maintenance, repair, and installation and removal of station and yard mechanical equipment and structures, including inspection, testing, monitoring, maintenance, repair, non-code welding, cutting, brazing, adjustment, and alignment of station and yard mechanical equipment such as piping, valves, boilers, boiler auxiliaries, turbine generators, turbine generator auxiliaries, heating, ventilation, air conditioning excluding work requiring certification, insulation, buildings and structures, painting and protective coatings, and rigging.
May operate overhead and mobile lifting equipment. May operate computers and related software as well as testing and inspecting equipment. May operate diesel generators and combustion turbines. Performs typical duties and works with other classifications as a composite crew in the performance of duties.
- Performs all work in a safe manner. Complies with all safety rules, regulations and procedures. Performs all work that they are qualified and trained to do in a manner to protect themselves, their fellow employees and the public from injury.
- Switches station equipment and circuits. Opens and closes disconnects and switches in accordance with established procedures and safety rules.
- Performs storeroom duties including transporting, handling, receiving, and storage of equipment, material, and supplies.
- Performs building and ground maintenance including painting, cleaning, cutting weeds, and mowing.
- May initiate work requests.
- Maintains work areas in a neat, orderly and safe condition; cleans up after completion of work and properly disposes of debris.
- Leads, trains and instructs other employees in their work.
- Installs, calibrates, troubleshoots, repairs, and maintains plant control, interlock, indicating, and recording equipment. This equipment may be mechanical, pneumatic, electrical or electronic. Types of equipment include transmitters, gas analyzers, solenoid valves, pneumatic controllers and positioners, and recorders, switchgear, solid state controls, relays, switches, contactors, indicating lights, air quality monitoring systems and PLC’s. Work includes installing, calibrating, testing, repairing, cleaning, and troubleshooting associated equipment.
- Troubleshoots and maintains the plant programmable logic controllers control systems. This may include tuning controls, installing and upgrading software, and point directory maintenance where appropriate to assist the systems analyst or engineer. Creates and modifies circuit-wiring diagrams (CWD’s). May assist with loops, ladders, text algorithms, and workstation graphic creation and maintenance.
- Installs, calibrates, and repairs primary sensing devices, such as thermocouples, pressure switches, temperature switches, gauges, level switches, transmitters, level devices and etc.
- Works from schematics, blueprints, diagrams, computer system and specifications. Updates and corrects diagrams and documentation.
- Installs and maintains pneumatic control piping and equipment.
- Installs, cleans, and repairs motor controllers and motors.
- Installs and maintains plant lighting.
- Maintains and cleans plant power distribution system.
- Installs cable and conduit. Uses a welder to attach brackets, supports and boxes.
- Maintains and troubleshoots plant UPS systems.
- As requested, handles preliminary work arrangements such as work management systems, parts availability, shop inventory; maintains/develops Bill of Materials, etc.
- Procures incidental tools and supplies in conjunction with their assigned work, from the storeroom/toolroom where applicable.
- Replaces and installs, performs fixed vibration monitoring, performs field analysis, inspects, cleans, repairs, adjusts, balances, lubrication, and aligns mechanical equipment such as turbines, boilers, pumps, valves, fans, air compressors, generators, heat exchangers, strainers, condensers, piping, screens, fire protection and other mechanical equipment. Starts and stops equipment by local control when out of service for maintenance and repair for test after having obtained clearances and making necessary arrangements with the operating force.
- Removes and installs insulation on piping, boilers, vessels, and duct work
- Does electric arc and gas welding where a qualified welder is not required by boiler, piping or welding codes. Does gas and plasma arc cutting. Does soldering and similar work.
- Performs assembly work associated with maintenance and repair of mechanical equipment; works from blueprints, diagrams and specifications and uses tools such as micrometers, calipers, dial indicators, and gauges, to perform work within close tolerances.
- Disconnects and reconnects linkages, operating arms and couplings, installs and/or removes temperature and pressure gauges as necessary in the performance of regular duties.
- Collects, reports, and records information relative to mechanical equipment and apparatus maintained or repaired as required. May use the maintenance control system to perform these duties.
- Operates station vehicles and equipment such as: truck, pickup, car, forklifts, front-end loaders, vacuum cleaning equipment, steam cleaners, portable welders, portable air compressors, overhead and mobile cranes, material handling equipment, mowers, and yard tractors.
- Checks and maintains fluid levels on operator serviceable items such as crank case, gear case, radiators, batteries, steering, power take-off, hydraulic systems, and brakes of equipment assigned to operate
- Operation of batteries, simple cycle CT and diesel units as applicable including starts, operates, changes load on, and shuts down turbines and turbine auxiliary equipment. Synchronizes the generator to the transmission system in the correct fashion and performs switching duties as necessary from the control room equipment. Changes generator MW and VAR loadings as requested by System Operations and as dictated by operating needs. Operates generator auxiliary systems such as the hydrogen system and the generator cooling systems.
- Monitors and takes corrective action as indicated by such instruments as turbine vibration equipment, valve position, eccentricity, and oil temperature. Operates such turbine auxiliary equipment as lube oil pumps, turbine control systems, cooling water pumps, excludes GDEC.
- Maintains a chronological record of data on the operation of the plants and records data as required or directed for proper unit operation, either manually or through use of the plant computer system.
- May operate diesel generators and combustion turbines from the control room where applicable.
- May maintain outage tag records and reports.
- Operates within established environmental criteria. Responsible for performing SPCC and SWPCC inspections. Shall monitor SPCC materials inventory levels.
- High school diploma or general education degree.
- One year of demonstrated knowledge of power plant operation, outside operator job skills or equivalent education and experience.
- Knowledge of basic computer skills
- Ability to work rotating shifts and some overtime as needed to maintain plant coverage.
- Ability to read and understand documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence accurately. Ability to communicate effectively, use acceptable telephone and radio etiquette necessary to communicate needed plant responses.
- Ability to define problems collects data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment in a calm collective attitude during emergencies and stressful situations.
- Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and projects concurrently.
- Valid driver's license.
At BHE Renewables, LLC we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion. BHE Renewables, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (except as required by law), gender (including gender identity and expression), sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran or military status, familial or parental status, marital status or any other category protected by applicable local, state or U.S. federal law.
BHE Renewables owns interests in several independent power projects in the U.S. BHE Renewables owns solar, wind, geothermal, hydro and natural gas projects that largely sell their output to regulated utilities. The company’s portfolio includes projects and assets in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York and Texas. BHE Renewables is building a first-of-its-kind solar-powered microgrid that will be the start of an aerospace manufacturing hub in West Virginia.
At BHE Renewables, we celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion. BHE Renewables is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (except as required by law), gender (including gender identity and expression), sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran or military status, familial or parental status, marital status or any other category protected by applicable local, state or U.S. federal law.
